§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he plans to take to increase the ratio of urologists per capita in Great Britain. [89678]
§ Mr. HuttonSince 1997, the number of consultant urologists has increased by 27 per cent. to 436 in March 2002. We are increasing the number of consultant urologists through expansion of registrar training places, improved recruitment and retention, international recruitment and promotion of flexible retirement.
In 2001 there were 0.9 urologists per 100,000 population.
As at 30 September 2001 there were 204 doctors in the registrar group for urology in the national health service in England. The output from these existing registrar training places, when combined with other increases and offset by expected retirements in the specialty is expected to result in around 582 trained specialists being available in surgery by 2010. The number of urologists per capita is therefore likely to increase significantly.